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July 15 is the new April 15 as Minnesota also extends income tax deadline due to COVID-19

However, estimated state income tax payments (quarterly payments you make if you expect to have to pay a significant amount in the following year's filing) for the 2020 tax year are still due April 15. This differs from the federal extension issued by the Internal Revenue Service, which pushed back the estimated tax payment deadline to July 15 for federal taxes as well.

The extension was to help Minnesotans dealing with COVID-19, Bauerly said. But for those who do not need extra time or who have already completed their taxes, she strongly encouraged them to file and pay — or prepare to receive their refunds — as soon as possible.

Approximately two-thirds of the Department of Revenue workforce is teleworking, Bauerly said Tuesday. She said they have the necessary equipment to continue processing refunds and providing information to taxpayers as well as security measures in place to protect individuals' private information.

In fact, the state is ahead of where it was last year at this same time. Bauerly said about 100,000 more tax returns have been filed compared to the same point in time last year, and the state has issued about 150,000 more refunds by comparison. The state also increased the number of returns it sent out, she said.

The traditional April 15 filing deadline is now July 15 for both federal and state income tax returns. The extension also applies to all tax payments for tax year 2019.(Photo: Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press)

Of Minnesota taxpayers, about 60% are eligible for free filing software depending on the product they choose and associated criteria, including age, military service and income threshold, according to the department.

The IRS also typically provides help through Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites across the state, but those sites have suspended services.

Bauerly said the Department of Revenue has focused on making sure its website is updated for customers and is working with VITA partners to reopen sites when possible, potentially June or July. Bauerly encouraged those who use VITA sites to use the free online filing resources for both their federal and state tax returns.

In 2019, more than 71,000 federal tax returns, more than 75,000 Minnesota income tax returns and almost 57,000 property tax refund returns were prepared for Minnesota taxpayers by the VITA program, according to the department. Those returns generated more than $133 million in federal, state income and property tax refunds.

"Everyone ... is dealing with this very difficult situation, and we want our customers to know that we know that they are still thinking about their taxes, too, even as they're thinking about all these other issues," Bauerly said.

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Last year's new Minnesota tax bill expanded the Working Family Credit, Bauerly said. This is a refundable credit that looks a lot like the earned income tax credit. The expansion allows larger families to claim more of a credit.